Cristina, Izzie and Meredith aggressively pursue the case of Shane, a male patient who seems to have a hysterical pregnancy, which fascinates the entire medical staff. Meredith becomes angry because everyone in the hospital is treating the patient like a sideshow and invading his privacy. She relates to him because the entire hospital staff seems to be gossiping about her and Derek. A sheltered young patient inspires Alex to better express his feelings for Izzie. He finds her at Joe's and sweeps her into a dramatic kiss that knocks her socks off. George and Burke treat a patient with extensive scar tissue around her heart, who is constantly complaining at her husband. Burke and Cristina discuss whether to go public about their relationship, whilst Addison and Derek encounter hurdles as they attempt to rebuild theirs.